TCEQ daily air quality forecast

Published 5:13 am, Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wednesday 07/20/2016

Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach "Moderate" in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and Tyler-Longview areas, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

A gradual build-up of continental haze has raised fine particulate levels over the eastern third of Texas this morning, but levels are expected to drop as daytime heating mixes the lower atmosphere. In addition, a patchy cloud of African dust may begin to affect deep South Texas today, but dust levels are expected to be light. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to remain in the "Good" range today in these areas.

Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

Thursday 07/21/2016

Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach "Moderate" or possibly higher in the Houston area and "Moderate" in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and San Antonio areas, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Elevated background levels associated with building continental haze combined with sufficient local add-on could be enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas. A patchy cloud of light African dust moving into the state from the south and southeast may raise fine particulate levels at times in parts of the eastern half of the state, but dust levels are not expected to be high enough to raise the daily PM2.5 AQI above "Good" in most areas.

Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds, heavy afternoon cloud cover, and/or lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

Friday 07/22/2016 Outlook

Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach "Moderate" in the Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio areas, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Lingering elevated background levels associated with continental haze combined with sufficient local add-on could be enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston areas. A few light patches of African dust may raise fine particulate levels at times in parts of the eastern two-thirds of the state, but the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to remain "Good" in most areas.

Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

Saturday 07/23/2016 Outlook

Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach "Moderate" in the El Paso area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.